Weekly Finds | Vol. 35
Muqarnas, Hanami, Meditations, India
Dear reader,
Welcome to the 35th Volume of this Newsletter. Here are the four finds of this week:
Hanami
In Japan there is an ancient tradition called Hanami. Every year, beginning at the end of March and until early May, the cherry trees come into bloom for a short period of time.
It is a breathtaking beauty to behold, and one of those natural sights far more wonderful than any words can explain.
Hanami is the tradition of gathering to enjoy the beauty of cherry blossom. That might include simple strolls, picnic parties, or even overnight stays under the blooming trees.
Meditations
Book by Marcus Aurelius
Meditations, written by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-180), is a record of his ideas on Stoicism.
Stoic philosophy was founded by Zeno of Citium in 3rd century BCE. Its foundation is built upon one main idea: Virtue is the only good. "A rational being's good is unselfishness," notes Aurelius.
How to act: Never under compulsion, out of selfishness, without forethought, with misgivings.
Stoics live a meaningful life regardless of their material circumstances, for virtue is not tied to factors such as physical health, social status, or wealth:
Anywhere you can lead your life, you can lead a good one.
Its philosophy emphasizes action over just thinking or writing about it. Aurelius, in Meditations, urges himself to take action:
No more roundabout discussion of what makes a good man. Be one!
How India Got its Name
The country we call 'India' is a Greek term for the word 'Hindu'. The word 'Hindu' itself is derived from the Sanskrit term 'Sindhu'— referring to the Indus River.
India is also known by three other names: Bharatavarsha, Aryavarta, and Hindustan. The first name appears in Mahabharata and post-Gupta Sanskrit texts, while Aryavarta was named after the dominant cultural community, the Aryans. Hindustan was named after the Sindhu (Indus River). Linguistically, s becomes h in Iranian. India came to be called 'Hind' in the Persian and Arabic languages with the term "Hindu" occurring in 5-6th centuries BC inscriptions. In post-Kushan times, the Iranian rulers conquered the Sindh area and named it Hindustan.
Watch the 4-min Video / Read more here →
Muqarnas
Islamic architecture
Muqarnas, also known as “stalactites”, are a characteristic of Islamic architecture developed around the 10th century in Iran and Iraq. It appears like a honeycomb vault and fulfills both functional and aesthetic purposes.
Functionally, muqarnas serve as a transition from a square base to a circular dome, and aesthetically, it creates stunning optical illusions that add depth to an architectural space by playing with light cast onto the intersecting facets.
⭐ Quote of the Week
Forget everything else. Keep hold of this alone and remember it: Each of us lives only now, this brief instant. The rest has been lived already, or is impossible to see.
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
And that’s all!
“Too much joy, I swear,” wrote Ocean Vuong, “is lost in our desperation to keep it.” Like the hanami-goers enjoying the Cherry blossom while it briefly lasts, may we cherish each moment coming our way this week.
Yours,
Krishna